I got a friend of mine to draw this tattoo I really want.

Basically it's going to go on my back (hopefully I want it done once I'm done with chest surgery, if not I'll probably get it before. I just have a thing with pressing my woman-chest against a doctor-like seat when I don't want anyone to see these defects).

The design will go across my back with the top-left flames going over my shoulder. In case you guys want to know what it means to me, this is me breaking free of my old mental ways, and doing the things that make me happy rather than being a slave to everyone else. If I had an animal spirit, it would be a dragon, and "Liberati" is Latin for "Freedom." For me, Liberati will mean "I am free!!" when it comes to this tattoo and its meaning.

Here's the original

#1



And here's the retouch, she redid it the way I asked.

#2



I like both but I think I really want the second one. Anyone else want to cast their vote? 1 or 2? I'm open to suggestions. But overall I'm really happy with the way it came out.

SWEEET dude! Where at on your back? That's a really good drawing, kudos to your friend!   I wonder how much that tat would cost.

I always said I'd never get a tattoo because I didn't know what I wanted or where to put it. Plus, I thought I would regret it one day.  However, I've been thinking about getting the words "no day but today." in plain, Times New Roman across the top of my back.  It's seriously what I live by and I don't think I'd regret it, plus it's easy to hide.  Also, under it, I MIGHT put in smaller font, "January 26th 1996 - September 7th, 2008," the running dates of Rent.  Yes, I'm obsessed but it def. got me through the worst times of my life.  I'm still contemplating though.

I've thought about getting one.  My brother has one, but never had it finished.  He doesn't care any more.  Fortunately I work in a place where they don't matter; I've worked in other places where they make you cover them up (wrist, neck, arm, etc).  I may try to work the campground circuit (read old farts!!) and don't know how they'll go over.

OTOH my aunt and uncle do that and they have tattoos... (they're in their late 50s).

Jay

There are still places that will not hire you with visible tats.  Even in my union you can't do the downtown hotel gigs with them if you can see them.

The second one looks like it has more feeling and motion to it. Are you gonna go with color or black and white?

I might do it in black and white.

Yeah, I've always thought about getting a tattoo too. On one hand, this one means a lot to me, but on the other hand, the one I've got now means very little to me at all (in terms of having deep meaning). I thought about the design for a solid month, decided I wanted it simple, and I still love it. I probably will still love it in the future. Tattoos don't have to have some obscure meaning, sometimes its just something you like and as a guy it can be easily hidden under dress shirts. If you guys wanna see it, here you go:



And yeah I know some places won't hire based on that, but if that's the case I'm fine with wearing long sleeves to work. I'm always cold anyway.

Brady: I was planning on having it encompass my entire back actually You should totally get yours done. It hurts like hell the first time, but it depends on where you get it done. It only hurt for mine when they went over my veins, everywhere else I could barely feel it.

Sweet!  LOL better than what I had in mind for self after surgery if ever can afford it

That is awesome! I want to get another tattoo soon its just desiding what to get!

I have a tattoo on my forearm in almost the same place, havok. It's easy to hide and even when I'm wearing short sleeves, people don't notice it.

As far as designs, I like #2 best. I think I'd wait till after chest surgery to get it though, just in case the surgery distorts it by moving skin around.

Dennis

I realized something.  The tattoo I want to get is "no day but today." 

But, I'm worried about regretting it later.  BUT it says NO DAY BUT TODAY lol maybe I should listen to my own tat.

I would vote for number 2 because it is more active, the first design is almost like an aftermath with the dragon's arms in a downward angle with the chain broken.  thats just my view of course.

I have 5 tattoos and none can be seen when wearing a short sleeve shirt unless I strech my arm out fully or with the wind blowing my sleeve up as my arm hangs out the window.  I have heard a lot about jobs and tattoos, even the military who at one time (especially the Navy) it was common place has cracked down on them and especially on visable ones.  But, going on your back should not be a problem unless you plan to one day be a lifeguard?

If its something you want, do it and don't worry about the rest.  I really believe Karma and other unseen forces have an influence in our lives and if its meant to be, it will be.

Surveys say that 50% of people with tats regret getting them within 10 years.  And it can cost $5,000 to get that $125 tat taken off.

Quote from: tekla on August 15, 2008, 06:12:58 PM
Surveys say that 50% of people with tats regret getting them within 10 years.  And it can cost $5,000 to get that $125 tat taken off.

As a coworker used to say, "So, what's your point?" 

Does that survey only deal with Americans? I wonder if a lot of those folks were drunk or high when they got the tattoos--or bowing to group pressure. And how many of them got tattoos with spouses'/lovers' names that they later broke up with!

It would be interesting to see more on this topic.

Well I assume it not including people like Maori tribesman, who do it as a ritual, or members of the Yakuza who have other reasons to have them.  (As do sailors, members of the special forces, or other 'rite of passage' types.)  I'm assuming its just people who think that for some reason its 'cool'.

I lived next to a major tattoo parlor in SF, and drunk was far too begin a description for the people going in there.

Quote from: Arch on August 15, 2008, 06:23:15 PM

Quote from: tekla on August 15, 2008, 06:12:58 PM
Surveys say that 50% of people with tats regret getting them within 10 years.  And it can cost $5,000 to get that $125 tat taken off.

As a coworker used to say, "So, what's your point?" 

Does that survey only deal with Americans? I wonder if a lot of those folks were drunk or high when they got the tattoos--or bowing to group pressure. And how many of them got tattoos with spouses'/lovers' names that they later broke up with!

It would be interesting to see more on this topic.

Exactly. Some of us just really like tattoos so I'm probably not in that percentage of people. I've loved tattoos since I knew what one was.

Brady....go for it dude.

Just remember, that that cute little butterfly you get tattooed on your butt or close to your money maker at 18, will, when your 45, look like Mothra.

I have Painter Smurf tattooed to my left shoulder-blade XD

whoooa thats a cool tattoo bro.  I like #2 better. the dragon breakin the chains.  kinda symbolic. I got two, one on my shoulder & one on my back.  dont wanna get any more but #2 looks hella cool 4 me to! sweet!

i like number two the best

If people were drunk or whatever when they got a tattoo then in my opinion, they were the idiot that made the choice to get drunk.  If they are that far gone, then they can live with it.  It's personal choice and they made the wrong choice.  Cold yes, but thats exactly how I see it, it was nobody elses fault but their own.  I have no sympathy for people who get drunk or high and make stupid choices. 

Every tattoo but 1 I have has personal meaning and represents my heritage and my spiritual being.  I would not get a spouse, lover, etc. like that because there is no guarentee.  Who I am is not going to change and if there are kids in my future, they would be part of me also...but kids are the only people outside of my heritage that are a personal part of me, so the only people I would consider, but I doubt I would do anything with names etc. Just not my thing just like color tattoos are not something I would do only grey scale. The one that does not fall into that is celtic in nature, but it was done for artistic reasons since I needed something to break things up for future tattoos.